The Public's Board of Trustees announced today it has unanimously selected philanthropist, activist, and longtime board member Luis A. Miranda, Jr. as our next board chair, effective Monday, October 24. Miranda succeeds Arielle Tepper, who has served as board chair since 2013 and will remain a member of the board. Miranda has served as a member of the board since 2015 and will be the first Latinx person to serve as chair.

Miranda and The Public share a commitment to cultivating an inclusive and equitable environment for artists, staff, and its audiences. As a board member, Miranda has championed the ongoing revitalization of The Delacorte Theater and served in leadership capacities, including chair of the Anti-Racism Committee and Government Affairs Committee and a member of the Executive Committee. 

Miranda assumes the role as The Public undertakes several major initiatives, including the renovation and modernization of The Delacorte Theater for greater accessibility and sustainability, the continuing development of new work, and the further advancement of the Theater’s mission of ensuring world-class theater belongs to everyone. Miranda will continue building on The Public's Anti-Racism & Cultural Transformation Plan and actively work to create more pathways for opportunities for people of color in theater.

“The Public Theater is an unparalleled institution in New York City—a globally influential civic hub that has created, motivated, and fostered countless works and artists,” said Luis A. Miranda, Jr., incoming Chair of The Public Theater’s Board of Trustees. “I, like The Public, believe that theater is for everyone. I will put my expertise, energy, and passion toward democratizing theater, so we can continue to support diverse artists and widen our audience in a profound and impactful way. I am privileged and thankful that I am entrusted with this responsibility.”

Miranda is a founding partner of the political advocacy firm MirRam Group. With a significant focus of Miranda’s devoted to philanthropic efforts and supporting the arts, he currently serves on the boards of a number of nonprofits and arts organizations, including as chairperson of the Latino Victory Fund and The Broadway League’s Viva Broadway initiative, and as Chair of the Northern Manhattan Arts Alliance.

Tepper is noted for heralding The Public’s spirit that all are welcome for artists, creators, donors, audiences, and community members alike. Under her decade-long leadership, The Public advanced several significant capital and artistic initiatives, including: the acquisition and build-out of 20,000 square feet of rehearsal space for creativity and the development of new work situated directly across the street from The Public’s flagship building, launching the highly anticipated revitalization of The Delacorte Theater in Central Park to make it sustainable and more accessible for generations to come, and the establishment of Public Works, a major Public Theater program which has engaged hundreds of New Yorkers and non-profits from the across the five boroughs in its work to restore and build community by connecting people through the creation of extraordinary works of art. Her tenure also saw the development of revolutionary new productions, added to the canon of American Theater, including Hamilton, Fun Home, and Eclipsed, among many others.   

“When I first joined The Public’s Board of Trustees in 2009, I never imagined I would spend a decade of my life as a driving force for the organization,” said Arielle Tepper, outgoing chair of The Public Theater’s Board of Trustees. “The Public is a place like no other with a mission so close to mine. Every day, it was my purpose to make everyone I met a part of The Public, as an artist, a donor, or an audience member; and to help The Public truly become a place where all are welcome and maybe even inspired. I am so proud to look back on everything that the incredible people of The Public and I have done together. And under Luis’ leadership, it fills me with joy to know that The Public’s brightest days are still ahead. I look forward to standing with him as I continue my service as a board member as we work together to drive The Public even further than before. I am incredibly excited for all the future has in store.” 

“Luis A. Miranda, Jr. has the vision, grit, experience, and passion to make an outstanding board chair and we are privileged to welcome him into this role at such a crucial moment,” said Oskar Eustis, Artistic Director of The Public Theater. “Arielle has been a brilliant leader for almost a decade, guiding The Public to unprecedented success and growth. Our gratitude is boundless. Luis has had an extraordinary career in politics, advocacy, and philanthropy. He is exactly the right leader for the new challenges facing us, ensuring that we live up to The Public's vision. Luis understands that the culture belongs to everyone, and we will work together everyday to deliver that promise with exciting art, inclusive programs, and passionate belief in New York."

“Luis’ decades of experience in fighting for causes, leading some of the city’s most impactful philanthropic efforts, and his deep personal commitment to the arts are exactly the qualities that make a formidable board chair for The Public,” said Patrick Willingham, Executive Director of The Public Theater. “We are deeply thankful to Arielle for an immensely productive, visionary tenure and look forward to continuing our work with her as she remains on the board in a new capacity.” 

“Luis A. Miranda, Jr. is a devoted New Yorker who has expanded access to the arts for decades through his advocacy for an inclusive and equitable environment in our city. As one of the nation’s first nonprofit theaters, The Public Theater has advocated for the same principles seen as a driving force for inclusive art and culture,” said New York City Mayor Eric Adams. “Congratulations to both The Public Theater, as well as my friend Luis on his appointment as The Public Theater’s next board chair. I’m confident his vision will transform The Public Theater to new heights and positively impact New Yorkers for years to come.”

"Congratulations to my good friend Luis Miranda on his appointment as board chair of The Public Theater," said NYC Cultural Affairs Commissioner Laurie Cumbo. "The Public Theater is such an important part of NYC's cultural landscape, and Luis' values and visions are perfectly aligned with their mission of bringing theater to the people of our city! Along with my team at the Department of Cultural Affairs, I look forward to continuing to collaborate with Luis, Oskar, and the whole Public Theater family to provide access to top notch theater experiences for all New Yorkers. I also want to thank Arielle Tepper for her many years of service as board chair, which have made an indelible mark."

Luis A. Miranda, Jr. has four decades of experience as a leader in the public, private, political, and advocacy sectors. He is the founding partner of The MirRam Group, founding president of the Hispanic Federation, and board chair of the Latino Victory Fund. He is recognized as a key contributor to the Senate campaigns of Senator Chuck Schumer, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, and former U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton. Most recently he managed Letitia James’ successful campaign to become New York State Attorney General.

For over 40 years, Luis and his wife Dr. Luz Towns-Miranda have championed community activism and Latinx-led organizations. They have created and fostered institutions that work with underserved populations in Upper Manhattan and communities throughout New York City, across the country, and in Puerto Rico. They continue to support advocacy for education, the arts, and social justice, along with a sustained focus on relief and rebuilding efforts in post-Hurricane Maria Puerto Rico.

Photo of Luis A. Miranda, Jr., Arielle Tepper, and Oskar Eustis by Simon Luethi and Andres Otero. Headshot of Luis A. Miranda, Jr. courtesy of The Public Theater.